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Hazardous Materials Division
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Contact Information, Office Hours, Training
Functions, Office Responsibilities
FAQ's, History, Interesting Facts
COBRA Team
Functions
Hazardous Materials and Counter-Terrorism Coordination, Response and Training
The Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) Division coordinates an organized effort among emergency responders and industry if hazardous materials are released. The coordination of this response is intended to lessen the impact of any incident on communities in Charleston County. A quick response and mitigation of the incident allows a faster return to normal conditions and allows the affected community to return to its lifestyle with minimum disruption.
The Haz Mat Division also coordinates the Low Country Regional COBRA A team for the state. The Low Country COBRA (Chemical, Ordnance, Biological, Radiological) Team is part of the state terrorism response force. Low Country COBRA consists of three teams of 43 specially trained individuals from Law Enforcement, Fire Department, EMS and Health agencies. These teams, along with their specialized response equipment, are part of a more extensive statewide response organization and can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the state. The Low Country COBRA team, along with the B teams from Beaufort and Berkley counties, has primary response areas from Georgetown south to the Georgia border and from approximately Interstate 95 east.
Additionally the Haz Mat Division coordinates the training and deployment of the Maritime Incident Response Team (MIRT). This cooperative assembly of local fire and EMS personnel are specially trained and equipped in firefighting on the water and at water-front facilities.
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This Office Does
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Provide training and funding of programs for emergency responders and industry |
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Purchase materials too costly for individual emergency responder agencies |
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Provide technical information and advice for commanders at hazardous materials incidents |
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Educate the public and provide technical information in non-emergency situations |
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This Office Does Not
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Issue summonses for hazardous materials violations |
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Clean up hazardous materials spills |
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Have a hazardous materials response team |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What agency is responsible for the clean-up of hazardous materials spills? |
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After the initial containment at an incident, the company or person responsible for the spill is liable for its subsequent clean-up. |
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What does the Haz Mat Division do when a chemical is spilled? |
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If the response team's incident commander requests the Haz Mat Division's assistance, the Haz Mat Coordinator, who is experienced and trained in handling spills, offers technical advice to the incident commander. The Coordinator has access to a library of computer and printed reference materials. |
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What types of materials are considered hazardous? |
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Whether or not a material is deemed hazardous depends more on where the material is found and in what concentration than on the type of material. An example of a seemingly safe substance which may become hazardous is milk. If large quantities are spilled in water, it will kill most insects but not mosquitoes which can transmit yellow fever, West Nile virus, etc., thus creating a biological hazard. |
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Are there many accidents involving hazardous materials in industries? |
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Far more accidents occur at home, at the office or in transit than occur in business facilities which manufacture or use hazardous materials. |
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Why do I hear so much about industrial incidents? |
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Perhaps because these often dramatic events have the potential to affect many people. Since these incidents are relatively rare, especially considering the frequency of other hazards like auto accidents and random acts of violence, they capture the public's curiosity and make headlines. |
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Why do we even have these hazardous materials? |
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As consumers, most people use products made from these materials as part of their daily life. We have more efficient vehicles, lifesaving medicines, wrinkle-free clothing and flame-retardant plastics because of the hazardous chemicals necessary in their manufacturing. |
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History
In 1987, Charleston County, along with area emergency response departments and industry representatives, formed the Local Emergency Planning Committee to examine what might make the County vulnerable to serious hazardous materials incidents.
In 1991, an explosion at Albright and Wilson, a chemical plant in the City of Charleston, killed nine and injured dozens. Two months later, workers on the freighter Santa Clara, docked at the Port of Charleston, discovered poisonous and highly flammable chemicals spilled in the ship's hold. These incidents led to the realization that agencies within Charleston County needed a coordinated emergency response effort to handle major hazardous materials incidents effectively.
With aid from the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Charleston County Fire Chiefs Association, the County drafted an ordinance to create the Hazardous Materials Division and assisted in selection of a coordinator. Haz Mat evolved from the coordinated efforts of 17 fire departments and many local industry entities throughout Charleston County. On May 2, 1994, the Haz Mat office began operation.
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Interesting Facts
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The Haz Mat Division trained over 1,700 responders in its first two years. |
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Haz Mat provides many diverse services, including research for development of fire and building codes and landscaping information on fire-retardant plants for areas with high fire potential. Training and response to marine fires and terrorist acts. |
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The Local Emergency Planning Committee meets the second Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are open to the public and held in room B-337 of the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston. |
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Contact Information
In case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Service Building
4045 Bridge View Drive, Room 317
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 958-4067 or 4071
(843) 958-4070 (Fax)
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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